Scholarship Applications Due May 2nd

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

CITY OF WHITING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR 2022

Students who are dependents of a Whiting owner-occupied home, please keep in mind that the deadline is drawing near to apply for the 2022 City of Whiting Scholarship and the 2022 City of Whiting Technical Education Scholarship.

The deadline for turning in completed applications to City Hall is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022. Copies of the applications are available in the Mayor’s office or online at

http://www.whitingindiana.com/intranet/Applications_and_Forms/Scholarship_Application_2022.pdf

http://www.whitingindiana.com/intranet/Applications_and_Forms/Scholarship_Technical_Education_2022.pdf

In order to qualify for the original scholarship, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, be the dependent of a Whiting homeowner who occupies that home and attend a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. This year up to four scholarships may be awarded and the value of the scholarship for the Class of 2022 will be $6,250 per academic year for a total award of $25,000 over four years.

For the 2022 graduates, a restricted scholarship opportunity was added by the family of Ron Plewniak. The Ronald F. Plewniak Scholarship has been endowed for an eligible applicant who is pursuing an engineering degree. Ron grew up in Whiting and is forever tied to the city’s history as “the little boy who lost his leg” in the Standard Oil explosion of 1955. Despite this experience, Ron Graduated from Whiting High School in 1965 and then obtained an Electrical Engineering degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette. He worked his entire career at Inland Steel and was highly respected as the go-to guy to solve complex problems. The goal of Ron and his family with this scholarship is to help an engineering student get traction to lead a productive life. Winners of the Ronald F. Plewniak Scholarship must also remain in the School of Engineering for the entire four years of the award.

Also available is the City of Whiting Technical Education Scholarship for those who wish to pursue courses of study at technical or vocational schools. This year one scholarship may be awarded with a value of $3,000 per year for a two year award totaling $6,000. In order to qualify for this scholarship, the student should have either pursued a technical education curriculum while in high school with a minimum GPA in technical courses of 2.5 or have a minimum GPA of 2.8, be the dependent of a Whiting homeowner who occupies that home and attend a regionally accredited technical education institution.

A five member committee will review the applications based on scholastic achievement, involvement and leadership activities within the school, and involvement and leadership within the community. The submittal requires an application, signed media release, senior photograph, current transcript and class rank (including SAT/ACT scores) and three letters of recommendation from individuals associated with the activities in which the student has participated. At least one letter of recommendation must come from an individual who is not affiliated with the student’s school system. We urge students to make sure the application is completed in its entirety and all attachments are included.

This scholarship is a great opportunity for a student who has excelled both inside and outside the classroom. It is not based on economic need but rather on the leadership and community involvement which the student has displayed. Past recipients include Haleigh Suarez, Ryan Willoughby, Katherine Staley, Aldo Lopez, Megan Kazmierski, Elizabeth Murzyn, Julianne Stribiak, Jonathan Dietz, James Staley, Caleb Strabavy, Elliot Bibat, Desiree Kristek, Brianna Scivinsky, Danielle Mantich, Erin Mahony, Elena Sobilo, Alivia Jakubowski, Nolan Michniewicz, Alexandra Danielides, Diana Lopez, Nina Mantich, Margaret Mills-Groninger, Emily Canning, David Gormley, Guadalupe Ruiz, Mary Lowry, Amanda Bonchik, Rana Hamad, Timothy Lowe, Julianna Scivinsky, Sara Mantich, Carlos Gonzalez, Ethan Harbin, Nicole Jovceski, Julia Ramirez, Hayden Shimala, Abbey Haynes, Angelica Jovceski, and Olivia Olson . Past recipients of the Technical Scholarship include Edgar Mendez and Jacob Pick.

For further information contact City Hall at (219)659-7700.